Keyamo Accuses NDC of Plotting Nigeria’s Breakup Over Old Anthem

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of promoting secessionism over its alleged use of Nigeria’s former national anthem in place of the country’s officially recognised anthem.

Keyamo made the allegation while defending the use of President Bola Tinubu’s campaign song, On Your Mandate, at public gatherings and official functions.

He maintained that the song was not being used to replace the national anthem but was played to welcome and celebrate the President after the country’s national anthem had been rendered.

The minister made his position known in a post on his X account on Sunday.

He was responding to criticisms surrounding the use of Tinubu’s campaign song and comparisons with the reported singing of Nigeria’s old national anthem by supporters of the NDC.

According to Keyamo, there is a clear difference between playing a political campaign song to welcome a President and singing a former national anthem in place of the country’s legally recognised national anthem.

He explained that supporters of Tinubu observe the national anthem at public events before introducing On Your Mandate as a song of celebration for the President.

“At no time have supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu sung ON YOUR MANDATE IN PLACE of the National Anthem. At every occasion, the NATIONAL ANTHEM is always sung as a mark of recognition of one of our most important national symbols, and then the President is serenaded by his supporters with ON YOUR MANDATE,” he said.

Keyamo argued that the practice should not be interpreted as an attempt to undermine Nigeria’s national identity or replace an important national symbol with a political song.

He also maintained that the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, should be allowed to adopt any song he considers appropriate for his political activities, including Nigeria’s former national anthem.

However, the minister insisted that the performance of such a song should not come at the expense of the country’s current national anthem.

He said it could be performed before or after the officially recognised anthem without creating an issue.

The aviation minister further defended the Police Band’s decision to play the instrumental version of On Your Mandate whenever Tinubu arrives at public functions or prepares to address an audience.

He explained that the practice was consistent with established presidential protocol and should not be treated as something introduced specifically for the current administration.

Keyamo recalled that previous Nigerian presidents were also welcomed with musical performances by the Police Band during official engagements.

He mentioned the administrations of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari.

According to him, the Police Band played musical compositions to announce the arrival of these leaders at important functions, including engagements at the National Assembly and other public gatherings.

He said the same tradition was being followed under Tinubu, with the instrumental version of On Your Mandate sometimes played to signal the President’s arrival or indicate that he was about to speak.

Keyamo, however, stressed that the national anthem remained an important part of official ceremonies and was not being displaced by the campaign song.

The minister also referred to the existence of state anthems across the country, arguing that the performance of additional songs at official gatherings was not unusual in Nigeria.

He explained that several state governments have adopted their own anthems, which are sometimes performed after the national anthem during official functions.

The minister subsequently directed his criticism at the NDC over the alleged use of the former national anthem.

He described the reported action as more serious than the controversy surrounding Tinubu’s campaign song.

Keyamo claimed that singing an outlawed national anthem in place of the legally approved one went beyond political expression and raised questions about national unity.

He argued that such an action suggested support for the idea of having a separate country, an interpretation he linked to secessionism.

“Singing an outlawed anthem IN PLACE of a legally approved NATIONAL ANTHEM by the NDC is surely an expression of a desire to have a separate country, and that is an INGREDIENT OF A SECESSIONIST GROUP,” Keyamo said.

Politics Nigeria recalls that Nigeria’s national anthem was changed in May 2024 after President Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill into law.

The legislation restored the country’s former anthem, Nigeria, We Hail Thee, which was used at independence in 1960 before being replaced in 1978 by Arise, O Compatriots.

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